This page was last modified on Thursday, November 10, 2011 08:34:15 PM
There are numerous projects ongoing on the Barbee Chain or certainly in our watershed. Groups that are doing projects on our watershed include the BLPOA and Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation. The BLPOA projects are typically weed control and dredging. TWF's projects are to improve our water quality. Select
TWF projects to get an idea of the type of watershed projects that are improving our water quality.
Two significant projects for the BLPOA are weed control and dredging. Weed control is annual and dependent on weather and water conditions. Dredging, coordinated by the BLPOA, is mostly complete after several long projects lasting into the 2010 timeframe. What follows is a summary of the weed treatment updates followed by the dredging projects. Your donations, along with a significant match of funding from LARE, go directly to these projects. Lately, there has been no match from LARE. This money is currently going to the general fund for Indiana. So your contributions are even more critical.
Challenges for 2012
For those of you that weren't at the lakes in the fall timeframe guess what is back? Our old nemesis, Eurasian Millfoil. Our weed guru says it grew from 15 acres in mid August to 125 acres in latter part of October. They will be waiting for our 2012 treatments.
Weed Treatment Status for 2011 as of 8/8/11
The following is a note from our weed company (Tony at Clarke) to our BLPOA weed man (Neil)
Neil,
On July 25 we treated all the channels for algae and inspected all the lakes. There were no problems with native plants in any channel other than Kuhn Lake. Our treatments on June 27 & 28 were very successful. Also, the Eurasian Watermilfoil in all areas has remained down with little re-growth. The treatments done on July 25 are covered by the season-long channel portion of the contract, so there were no charges incurred.
We have you on the schedule for August 8. At that time we will treat most of the channels in Kuhn for Northern Milfoil. We had intended to touch-up the native plants in any channels if required on July 25, but Northern Milfoil is not susceptible to contact herbicides. We will use a systemic on August 8.
We may do more algae work on the lakes proper if it is needed. Please let us know if there are any areas that need to be surveyed or touched-up.
Tony (Clarke)
Weed Treatment Status for 2011 as of 7/13/11
On June 27th and 28th Clarke treated all the channels for both native weeds and algae. Clarke also treated 10 acres of algae in Big Barbee Lake that simply had to be done. The 10 acres of algae cost BLPOA $600.
The milfoil looks better. Clarke was concerned because they use a liquid product and there was so much rain. It would be a good idea to perform a late summer milfoil treatment if it is in the budget. We have always wanted to do this on Barbee because of the amount of milfoil spread in a typical season. It would make Irish, Sawmill and Big Barbee look much better on Labor Day and might result in less milfoil the following spring.
Clarke has the Barbees on the schedule for July 25th and 26th. At that time they will treat all the channels for algae and touch up any weeds that have popped up. Clarke can do more algae work on the lakes proper if it is needed.
Weed Treatment Dates for 2011 as of 6/28/11
Tony (Clarke) was on the lake yesterday and today finishing up his spraying for milfoil and curlyleaf. He also finished up the approximately fifty channels on the Barbee Chain. Tony will not do his lakewide algae treatment till after July 4. Tony and I noticed that there are alot of native weeds this year. The one that sticks up out of the water (prevalent on Kuhn and Sechrist) about three inches is the native pondweed. The part that sticks out of the water is the seed case. This will eventually die and disappear below the water.
Weed Treatment Dates for 2011 as of 6/18/11
From Clarke-
On May 24th we treated 74 acres of E. Milfoil in Irish, Little Barbee, Sawmill, Sechrist and Banning with liquid 2,4-D.
On June 14th we treated 25 acres of Curlyleaf with Aquathol K in all of Barbee Chain and 66 Acres of E. Milfoil in Big Barbee.
Included was treatment of E. Milfoil, Northern Milfoil and Curlyleaf in all channels. No exotic plants have been found in the weed beds on Kuhn Lake, however all the channels on Kuhn were treated (mostly for Northern Milfoil).
We have billed you for 25 acres of Curlyleaf and 140 acres of liquid 2,4-D. We will not bill for the channels until after we have treated them for algae and other weeds. We will schedule this as along with a lake wide algae treatment if it ever stops raining.
We need your membership and donations to continue this treatment especially for algae later in the summer.
Weed Treatment Dates for 2011 as of 6/11/11
Tony Cunningham has yet to spray (other than Irish for milfoil). He promised to spray on June 14th (weather permitting) and the water levels are not too high. He will spray for milfoil and curlyleaf and treat all the channels during this next week. Again, everything depends on the weather and that the lakes are not too high.
Weed Treatment Dates for 2011 as of 5/26/11
Tony Cunningham sprayed for milfoil on Irish on 5/25. He was supposed to spray 5/26 but was unable to because of 2-3 inch rains. The water is now too high and he has rescheduled for next Tuesday (if water has gone down enough). He will be spraying for milfoil and curlyleaf.
Weed Treatment Dates for 2011 as of 4/18/11
Here are the tenative dates (weather permitting). Early next week (April25-29) Tony Cunningham has scheduled his boat tour of the lakes to evaluate the weed situation. On the weeks of May 2nd and May 9th he has scheduled the spraying of curly-leaf and to make the milfoil maps. The week of May 23rd he has scheduled the spraying of milfoil. Of course, this is all dependent on our great Indiana weather. Tony thinks that Big Barbee will be thick with Milfoil this year. He is hoping that we can spray less for curly leaf and apply that money to a fall treatment of milfoil, which he wanted to do last year but the BLPOA did not have the funds to cover that.
Weed Treatment for 2011
In the hope of an early spring, it is time to be thinking of fishing, boating, and other water sports on the Barbee chain. With the approach of spring it is time to think of weed control on our lakes. With a great possibility of no LARE grant monies being available this year, this puts more of the burden on the property owners to help fund our weed spraying.
Last year we spent $68,660 which included $14,000 on tier surveys. $54,660 was allocated towards the spraying of exotic weeds and algae. If we do not receive any LARE monies the tier surveys ($14,000) will not be a requirement for us. However, if we do receive monies from LARE the tier surveys will be required. LARE will pay most of that money for the tier surveys.
We are encouraging all property owners of the Barbee Lake chain to join our organization (BLPOA). If you are already a member we recommend you to talk with your neighbors and encourage them to join the BLPOA. Since all of us benefit from weed control it would be nice for more of us to share the expense required to provide weed control.
We have received an estimate for weed control and it is in the Treasure's Corner.
Dredging Project Recent History
Places listed below are the locations dredged by the BLPOA/LARE Grant funds. The association funded 25% of the cost with the balance picked up by LARE Funding. Not covered by LARE Funding was the cost of the spoils site payment to the landowner, the cost of having a contractor excavate and close the spoils site, and returning the spoils site to it's original state; ie finish grooming the ground, sewing grass seed, new fencing, etc. As noted in our bylaws, it has been done 'for the improvement of the lakes'. PHASE I DREDGING Putney Ditch on Little Barbee Entrance Channel going into Little Barbee from Big Barbee PHASE II Channel between Big Barbee and Kuhn Lake Channel between B-8/B-9 Lane Channel between B-25/B-26 Lane The BLPOA also sponsored a qualifying group on a private channel on Kuhn to enable their receiving LARE funds for 75% of the cost. Homeowners on several private channels on Kuhn Lake & Big Barbee also went together to pay for dredging of their channels. Where possible they were allowed to piggyback with the dumping of their spoils into the existing spoils sites. Because the dredging equipment was already on the lakes it also saved the homeowners the added cost of the dredging company mobilizing to move the equipment to the lakes. |
Thanks to Lew Huston and Perry Hastings for coordinating efforts with the dredging projects.
Weed Treatment Status as of 7/23/2010
This past week (July 19, and 20th) Tony Cunningham's crew sprayed for algae in all of the channels on the Barbee Chain. This is part of the agreement we have with the Clarke Corporation, in which Tony is part of. Channel spraying (for algae only) will continue throughout the summer season. Due to the lack of monies, lake-wide spraying is done for the season, unless other monies can be appropriated. A lake-wide spraying was done earlier this summer for Eurasisn milfoil and curly-leaf pondweed. We need members of the BLPOA to encourage your neighbors (if not members) to become members of the BLPOA to continue weed treatments.
Dredging Completion
Lew Huston's report from 6/19/2010
The fencing was installed on the Hartup property at 6421 McKenna Road and completed at 4:10PM June 14, 2010. The BLPOA contract with Custom Fencing was $1220. This new farm fence replaced the old fencing near the sediment dump site as per the contract. The original contract was penned with BLPOA and the Hartup family on 2/24/2006!!
Those present for the inspection included: Lillie Hartup, Aaron Hartup, Ron Miller, Mory Weyand and Lew Huston.
The final part of our contract is to level and seed grass at the barn lot area opposite the cornfield. Lew NEEDS SOME ADVICE FROM THE BOARD ABOUT POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE THE SMALL EQUIPMENT TO TILL THE AREA, WHICH IS 128’X 5.5’ AND PLANT GRASS SEED.
Lew has located a storage facility that will hold the buoys and lake signs at the endo of the boating season at NO COST.
Weed Treatment Status as of 6/19/2010
On June 17-18 Tony Cunningham’s crew (Clarke) was on our lakes to spray all the channels for algae and other weeds. Reward, a contact herbicide, and copper sulfate (used for algae) were sprayed in the channels. Reward is used to control Eurasian water milfoil, elodea, duckweed and coontail. The months of June-September Tony plans to target algae and native plants in the channels. Other spraying that Tony does will need to be approved by the association due to budget constraints.
Weed Treatment Status as of 6/4/2010
On June 3rd Clarke sprayed the lakes for eurasian water millfoil and curlyleaf pond weed. Also there was some treatment for algae.
Weed Treatment Status as of 5/31/10
Due to the current high water levels weed treatment schedules have been tweaked.
On may 27th Clarke (our aquatic week company) treated 15 acres of curleyleaf pond weed throughout the chain. They also did some additional surveying for the eurasian milfoil. During the week of 5/31 they are hoping to treat the lakes and channels for eurasian milfoil given the conditions (water levels) are acceptable.
Weed Treatment Schedule for 2010 (Clarke)
· WEEK OF MAY 10, 2010
o Survey of lakes for Eurasian Watermilfoil and Curlyleaf Pondweed
o Inspection of channels to identify algae growth
· WEEK OF MAY 17, 2010
o Communication of recommended treatment acreage targeting Eurasian Watermilfoil and corresponding price to Barbee Chain of Lakes Property Owner’s Association.
o Treatment of algae in channels if necessary.
· WEEK OF MAY 17, 2010- WEEK OF MAY 24, 2010
o Treatment targeting Eurasian Watermilfoil as needed in lakes and channels.
· JUNE-SEPTEMBER 2010
o Treatment targeting algae as needed in channels*
o Treatment targeting algae in lakes as needed*
*By request if needed and supported by Association’s budget.
· AUGUST 2010
o Perform second Eurasian Watermilfoil Treatment as needed if funding proves to be available.
Note: Total Eurasian Watermilfoil program can be kept under $48,000 budget cap by using liquid 2, 4-D.
Weed Updates 9/22/09
With fall in the air, another lake season is coming to an end. All weed spraying on the lakes has come to a halt. Next year presents a challenge to us. We are anxiously awaiting to see how much monies we will receive from LARE grants. We encourage all property owners to join the association to help us maintain our lakes. Join us at our next monthly meeting, which will be held on the 10th of October. Here you will be able to voice your concerns. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Weed Updates 8/23/09
At the last (August) BLPOA meeting a main topic of the discussion was the availability of monies for weed control for next spring and summer. Tony Cunningham, our weed control applicator, had wanted to do another spraying for the eurasian milfoil weed this fall. However, we had to tell Tony that we do not have the money for this last spraying project. Therefore, the Barbee Lakes spraying project for this season has ended.
A major concern for next year is the availability of money for the spraying of the Barbee Lake chain. The two main sources of money comes from LARE grants and the number of property owners that join the BLPOA.
No one knows for sure how much money (if any) we will receive from LARE. Hopefully our share of LARE money will be equal or more than we received for this year. Our main concern is getting more property owners to join the BLPOA. Any person or family that has interests in our beautiful chain of lakes should really consider joining our organization. Part of your membership dues would go to controlling the weeds on our lakes.
Weed Status as of 7/20/09
On Saturday, July18, at the annual meeting of the BLPOA, Tony Cunningham gave us an update on the weed spraying on the Barbee chain. Tony is the major applicator for Weed Patrol, Inc. According to Tony, the main spraying this year has been for the Eurasian milfoil and the algae. Algae blooms have been a major problem this year on all lakes. Tony mentioned that the heavy rains have contributed to the increase in algae blooms. The heavy rains have caused more runoff that helps to "feed" the algae. Tony urged that property owners be very careful what they put on their lawns. For instance, people that fertilize their lawns should use lake-friendly fertilizer. This means that you should use fertilizer that contains no phosphates (the middle number on the bag should read 0).
Property owners that have had trouble with native weeds can individually contact Tony for spraying next year. This spraying would have to be paid entirely by the property owner. There will be further details later on this web site how you can contact Tony.
Weed Status as of 6/20/09
Neil Schwartz reported that milfoil and curly leaf treatments in lake waters and channels had been completed. Tony Cunningham noted that the curly leaf population had greatly diminished and that he would see if LARE funds for curly leaf spraying could be transferred to cover the cost of milfoil treatment.
A lake-wide treatment for algae will be completed prior to the July 4th week-end. Any additional algae treatment in channels will be delayed until we can be sure we have adequate funds.
Weed Status as of 5/28/09
With the inclement weather and high water our weed spraying schedule has been delayed for at least two weeks. June 1st will be the earliest that spraying will start. Tony Cunningham, our weed control applicator, says he is way behind schedule due to the bad weather and high waters. Apparently the last few years spraying of the curlyleaf has been successful. However, the milfoil is showing up in great numbers. We encourage all property owners to become members of the BLPOA and to contribute to the high cost of the chemicals for spraying. With the LARE grants being considerably lower this year we need more people to become members of this beneficial organization.
Weed Treatment Info
Weed treatment only happens if the exotic weeds are found to be present. Curly leaf pond weed (left below) and eurasian milfoil (right below) are the targeted exotics.
LARE monies do not cover treatment of our 41.3 acres of channels (There are 702 houses on the Barbee Lake Chain channels). It pertains only to lake front areas. The expense of channel treatment is a separate contract price between Weed Patrol and our Association!
Please remember to use only “lake friendly” lawn fertilizers. These are available at most retail outlets. ONE pound of phosphorus can produce up to 10,000 pounds of lake vegetation!!!!!! If you use a commercial company to care for your lawn, please specify NO phosphates on your lawn, and GET IT IN WRITING!!!
If you are a paid member and have made a donation to the weed control and feel you have a problem, please contact me. Otherwise I cannot help you. Please visit our website for further information and contacts (www.barbeelakes.org).